Multiple-socket electric plug



Sept. 18, 1928.

I. F. GILES ET AL MULTIPLE SOCKET ELECTRIC PLUG Filed. April 18, 1925' Patented Sept. 18, 1928.

' UNITED STATES P AITENT OFFICE.

ISAAC F. GILES, OF MALONE, AND JACK A. ROBERTS, OF BRONXVILLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO ILEITE ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, OF TUGKAHOE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. Y

MULTIPLE-SOCKET ELECTRIC PLUG.

Application filed April 18, 1925.

In charging batteries for radio and other work by a charging machine coupled with an electric light circuit, it is frequently desirable to employ an electric lamp as a resistance to cut down the current to the charging machine, and thus prevent the machine overcharging the battery. The object of this invention is to provide a two-way plug socket adapted to be mounted in the usual household socket and carry an electric lamp and the plug of the battery charging machine in series with each other. When such a device is employed, no current can flow through the battery charger unless the lamp is in place, so that the lamp acts not only to reduce the current to the charger, but also as a telltale, showing by its illumination that the current is flowing.

l/Ve carry out the above object by arranging the terminal shells and center contacts in our multiple socket in series with the lead-in conductors, and we provide a construction which permits the device to be cheaply formed and readily assembled.

Preferred forms for carrying out our invention are illustrated in the drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a. double ended barrel socket of the pin type made in accordance with our invention; Fig. 2 is a section taken on a plane indicated by the line 2--2 in Fig 1; Fig 3 is a longitudinal section taken vertically through the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. l is a perspective view of one of the connecting pieces employed in the socket of Figs 1, 2 and 3.

Our invention is shown in connection with a casing comprising electrical insulatingmaterial such as Bakelite which is molded to the desired shape. The casing illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 has opposite and outwardly facing openings 11 and 12 in the nature of pockets which are separated by a wall 13. The casing also has passageways 1 1 and 15 which lead outwardly from the openings 11 and 12 respectively, and has passageways 25 and 29 which extend through the wall 13 and provide communication between the pockets.

Electric current may be brought into the casing through contact blades 16 and 17 which may frictionally engage the usual screw threaded plug indicated in broken lines in Figs. 1 and 3. These blades are shown as extending into the passageways 14 and 15 respectively and are connected at their inner ends to the central contact pieces 20 and 21.

Serial No. 24,086.

. The central contact member 20 forms one terminal connection while a threaded shell 22 in the pocket 11 forms a cooperating terminal connection for receiving a plug or lamp in the usual way. In the socket 12 is a similar threaded shell 23 which cooperates with the contact member 21. The two shells are electrically connected together and thus the current passes through them in series.

To connect the shells 22 and 23, we have shown a metallic strip 24 which extends through a passageway 25 in the casing and ductors as at 16, passes through center contacts 20, and then through a c-urrent reducing device, as a lamp in the shell 22, then through shell 22, connector 24, shell 23, then through a battery charger or other translating device having its plug in the shell 23, to central contact 21 and out through conductor 17. Thus current will not flow unless both sockets are occupied, as intended.

It will be seen from inspection that the metal shells are eilectively retained in their respective sockets byinsulating washers which overlie inturned shells at their bases. A washer 51 is likewise placed beneath each shell flange. The screw of the central contact clamps these two washers together so that they thusclamp the shell flange between them. The inner washers,

particularly in Fig. 3,-prevent the shell,

a simple construction and one which may be readily assembled. It will be evident from the description given that we have provided an electric fixture embodied in a two-way plug-socket which may be inserted between the terminal plug of the battery charging flanges of the of Fig. 3

outfit and any electric socket, and serve as a l protector and indicator.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

In a device of the character described, the

combination of a barrel having a pair of aligned pockets, a pair of contact blades extending laterally through the wall of the barrel into the interior ad acent the base of the pockets, metallic screw shells in the pockets respectively, central metallic contacts con-' inner surface of thebarrel and contacting 1 with the two shells whereby the sockets are connected together in series with the two contact blades.

In testimony whereof, we'hereunto affix our signatures. 1 t ISAAC F. GILES. a JACK A. ROBERTS. 

